14 replies to this topic

[Mudhen]

I know, I know, get your minds out of the gutter, people.

ANYWAY, what do people use to open up a bushing. Do they make round files small enough to do the trick, or should I use a 3/32'nd drill bit chucked into something that I can turn by hand.

As always, any and all help is appreciated.

 

Richard M. (Frank)

[Phil Hackett]

OK... depending how exact you want the fit, I'd start off with a .0938" (3/32") reamer for a possibly tight slip fit or .0940" for more of a slip fit. How close to the axle size do you want? Be aware reamers are sized nominal size up to +.0002".
 
McMaster-Carr has them. They might be expensive but they'll last for years in your application.
 

[Bill Seitz]

I've resorted to using a drill bit by hand to open up tight hubs, so that could work in a bushing. I usually find the problem with a bearing is that the axle is oversize so try another, not that the bearing is undersize, so correct size reamer or drill bit may not be the answer; reamer might need to be oversize. As pretty much always, McMaster-Carr has about any common material, hardware, or tool item, though you might find a cheaper price at Amazon if they have it.

 

I have a set of jeweler's files which are small enough to be handy for quite a few things around slot cars. A couple are small enough to clean out the 2mm hole in a pinion before soldering. I'm sure Mcmaster has them, too, though I got mine at Ace Hardware.

[Mudhen]

Thanks man, I love good tools.

[MG Brown]

Duffy Products offered 1/8", 3/32", and 2mm reamers with a nice handle.

 

You may have to search around to find who carries them.

[LtDan]

MuMuMudhen, go to Sharstool.com that is where I got mine 3/32" chucking reamer P/N 416-1091 $15.19.

[LtDan]

Are you using drill rod axles, the last set I bought tended to be tad large, I put them in pocket lathe (hand drill) with 1200 grit wet and dry polished them to fit. 

[MSwiss]

If the bushing isn't real tight, take an axle and cut a bunch of nicks in it with Dremel 409 cutting disc.

 

If turning it by hand, using an old tire as a handle, doesn't open up the bushing to the desired fit, chuck the axle

in a hand drill and run it at the slower speed.

[Racer36]

Get in touch with Matt Sheldon or Steve at Duffy’s Raceway in Evans, Colorado. They stock excellent reamers in 2mm, 3/32", and 1/8".

 

 

I think they are 20 bucks each and worth every penny.

[Dave Crevie]

Reamers do come in  - sizes. (undersize) But you probably will only want plus sizes. Buy a high speed steel chucking reamers. You don't need carbide for bushings. DO NOT USE A TWIST DRILL BIT. You can't control the size well enough.

 

If I ream rear axle bushings, I do it with the bushings already soldered in. That will make sure the holes are aligned. And run the reamer shank across the chassis into the bushing on the opposite side, to help make sure the reamer is aligned so you are not reaming the hole on an angle. The reamer will cut going backwards through the bushing, as long as you turn it in the correct rotation, clockwise looking from the shank end.

[Wizard Of Iz]

There are a number of reamers available on Amazon.  Price points seem to vary with the quality of the reamer.

 

I bought a couple of them a few years ago... a 3/32" reamer for axle bushings, spur gears, and tire hubs.  And a 2 mm reamer for cleaning up the inside of used pinions and/or scuffing the inside of a pinion to prepare for soldering. They have served me well.

[Bill from NH]

I don't recall where I got my reamers, probably from different places, but I used the 2mm to change press-on pinons to solder-on ones during the days I ran flexis.

 

Trinity sold bottles of bushing break-in oil with a fine grit in it, probably an RC product. You applied it to bushings, ran them in for a few minutes on a PS, then flushed them clean, & applied fresh oil. I used the product on slot car axle bushings but not on motors.

[Dave Crevie]

I'm a big believer in Amazon. Buy most everything from them that is not food or medications. Ordered a photo album from them at 2:30 yesterday afternoon, got it at 10:00 this morning. But cutting tools I usually buy from Fleetwood or MCS. 
 

In recent years, I have been buying shop tools from Harbor Freight. Their cutting tools are made by either Bauer or Hercules. If I'm looking for cheap cutting tools, Bauer tools are pretty good. Hercules not so much, but fine for what we are doing. Amazon buys their cutting tools from Centec, which gets their items from a variety of Chinese manufacturers. The quality can be a bit subject. But again, probably good enough for reaming bushings.

 

Most of my reaming was in hardened tool steel. Going with a high quality tool was usually the way I went. Nothing more aggravating than having a reamer snap off in a hole because it was not sharp and overheated and seized up in the hole. Doing a lot of Mil.spec work taught me how to ream holes for exact dowel fit.

[Mark Onofri]

I bought a pair from Scott @ PCH. If you spend at a slot car store it keeps going, opposed to a purveyor of general hobby sundries that isn't supporting our hobby/sport.
📢SUPPORT THE SLOTS.

[SlowBeas]

Years ago, I bought a 3/32" countersink drill bit at Lowe's. I pass it through the bushing a few times while turning the bit a few times by hand. No damage done to the bushing, and it removes any burrs. Only costs a few bucks, too. Seems good enough for my purposes.